Items tagged with pixel
In a potential move that could shake things up in the mobile space, Google might be taking a page from Apple by designing its own system-on-chip (SoC) hardware for future Pixel smartphones and lower end Chromebook devices. If that turns out to be the case, it would be disappointing news for Qualcomm, and good news for Samsung. Google has traditionally leaned on Qualcomm to power its smartphones. For example, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL wield a Snapdragon 855 processor, while the previous generation Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL both touted a Snapdragon 845 SoC. The same is true of the upcoming Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a XL—they are rumored to run on a Snapdragon 730 chip. By shifting design chores in-house,...
Read more...
Call recording can be a very useful tool in a variety of situations. Unfortunately, it is currently not a feature available in the Google Phone app. However, keen-eyed developers recently dug into the code of the Google Phone app and uncovered code for call recording. Google removed its own native call recording feature with Android 6 Marshmallow. Developers were able to provide users with an alternative for a little while, but Google got rid of that capability with Android 9 Pie. Pixel and Android One users can record screened calls, but have needed to find ways to record their other phone call conversations. Google has yet to provide an official tool. However, call recording appears to...
Read more...
Without question, Google's Pixel 4 XL has been the most leaked smartphone of 2019 prior to its official launch. Heck, even Google teased the device and a key feature or two along the way, so it goes without saying, the hype was big for this fourth generation Pixel. Google tries to set the bar for Android ecosystem partners with respect to industrial design and new enabling technologies with its Pixel phones. And in fact, the new Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL bring with them a couple of firsts for made by Google devices, specifically a 90Hz display and wireless charging. The premise is that hopefully these new features are "done right" so to speak, or at least that the technology has matured enough to...
Read more...
Google's original Pixel smartphone has enjoyed an epic run when it comes to major operating system and security updates, but the end of the road is finally in sight. Starting with November's monthly rollout of Android security updates, the Pixel is being abandoned by Google. The Pixel has been supported for a remarkably long time -- at least for an Android device -- since its original release back in October 2016. That's one of the benefits of going with Google's hardware in the Android ecosystem, and it's rare to find continual support for 3-year-old devices from its OEM partners. In fact, Google even allowed first-generation Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones to upgrade to the current...
Read more...
It appears that the rumors swirling around the web yesterday were correct: Android 10 has just been released today for Google's first-party Pixel smartphones (Pixel, Pixel 2, Pixel 3, Pixel 3a families). This latest version of Google's mobile operating system was previously known as Android Q, and we were expecting it to be named after so sweet delicious treat like its predecessors. However, Google confirmed late last month that it was simply going with the Android 10 nomenclature. Android 10 isn't exactly a huge rethink of the most popular operating system in the world, but it does bring with it a wealth of improvements and refinements that make it easier to live with on a daily basis....
Read more...
A court has approved Google's Pixel and Pixel XL smartphone settlement. The class-action lawsuit alleged that Google knowingly sold devices with defective microphones. Owners of those devices are eligible for cash reimbursement in the settlement, but there a few conditions Pixel owners must meet with the most important being that they purchased the Pixel or Pixel XL before January 7th, 2017. The biggest payout possible in the settlement is up to $500, and to get that much from the $7.25 million settlement you must be able to document your microphone woes with the Pixel devices. All owners of the Pixel or Pixel XL that purchased before the January 7th, 2017 deadline are eligible for up to $20....
Read more...
For developers and enthusiasts looking to get an early taste of the next version of Google’s Android operating system, the release of new betas is always a highly-anticipated event. And while there's always the promise of cool new features and performance enhancements, there's always the possibility that things could go wrong with this early software -- after all, it is still in beta. Such is the case with Android Q Beta 4, which first landed earlier this week. Almost immediately, Pixel owners began complaining about problems with the over-the-air (OTA) update. Many users said that the Beta 4 update failed to install and, in some cases, put them into reboot hell. Others were cast...
Read more...
Google has made a splash over the last month with the launch of the new mid-range Pixel 3a and 3a XL smartphones. The devices have up to $600 in incentives to get users to trade in iPhone and other devices to get the new smartphone. We've talked about Android Q before with its focus on privacy and a slew of other new features coming. Google is reportedly working on another new feature for Android Q that might not come to everyone. This feature is automatic car crash detection. References were found to the new feature in the Android Q Beta 3 Safety Hub app. A string in the app reads that the car crash detection function will "automatically launch an alert activity when the device detects you are...
Read more...
There have been rumors going around that Google is gearing up to launch new mid-range smartphones to appeal to a wider range of smartphone buyers. As smartphone prices continue to grow, many consumers are simply not buying and are holding onto older devices for longer. Previously, a rumor suggested that these new mid-range devices will be called the Pixel 3 Lite and the Pixel 3 XL Lite. A new rumor claims that the mid-range Pixel devices will be called the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. The mid-range devices will reportedly launch in black, white, and iris colors; iris is said to be a mix between blue and purple. Pricing rumors suggest that the smartphones will go for about 450 euros, which would...
Read more...
If 2018 was the year of the notch, it looks as though 2019 may be the year of the folding smartphone. So far, we’ve seen the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X; and Motorola is confirmed to be working on a folding smartphone that will likely be branded as a Moto RAZR. We’re now learning – thanks to patent uncovered by Patently Mobile – that Google has its eyes on folding smartphones as well. We all know that Google is supporting folding smartphones on the software side with Android Q, but this patent relates to actual hardware. The patent shows two different folding display designs, one of which has a single fold,...
Read more...
As we discovered last month after a thorough review, Google's Pixel 3 and 3 XL smartphones are really good and we dubbed them as "Android Refined". And that camera! The camera is clearly one of the biggest attractions here, especially with the ability to take some of the best night shots we've ever seen. It's surprising, then, that even though the Pixel 3 and 3 XL only released last month, Best Buy is already applying one heck of a discount for Black Friday. That deal is $400 off, which is the kind of price slash that brings a top-end device down to or below the price point the likes of OnePlus flagships. This assumes of course that you're fine calling Verizon home, as that's the exclusive...
Read more...
Considering that nearly every detail about the Google Pixel 3 smartphone family has leaked at this point, it seems rather appropriate that the actual launch date would also be revealed ahead of schedule. According to a new report, the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will be revealed at an event in New York City on October 9th. For reference, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were launched last year on October 4th. This news of the early October launch comes courtesy of Bloomberg, which slipped the information off-handily in its earlier piece on the 2018 Apple iPhone lineup. If Apple’s September release schedule sticks to previous years, the Google devices will debut just a few...
Read more...
The Pixel 3 family is likely still weeks away from being "officially" unveiled, but a constant stream of leaks has given us excellent looks at the upcoming Android 9 Pie flagships. In particular, the Pixel 3 XL has been especially prone to posing for the camera. The Pixel 3 XL has leaked once again, this time in a high-quality unboxing video that has been posted to YouTube. In the Russian video, we see that the Pixel 3 XL comes with a pair of Pixel Buds-style headphones that attach to the bottom-mounted USB-C port. Also in the box are a USB-C to USB-C adapter, USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, a USB-C to USB-A adapter and a wall plug. The video gives a good look at the Pixel 3 XL from all...
Read more...
Google decided to take Android 9 Pie out of the oven a little early, and while there are certain parts that could use a bit more baking, it is out of beta and ready to install on Pixel and Pixel 2 handsets. Well, sort of. Google is not pushing Android 9 Pie out to the masses yet, but has made available the source code to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). What that means is you can download and install Android 9 Pie on your Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, or Pixel 2 XL by manually sideloading it onto your device. That is a different process than just heading into settings and fetching it as an over-the-air (OTA) update. There is some prep work involved, especially if you have never done this sort...
Read more...
